The spirit of innovation continues to spread as Innovate Iloilo joins forces with regional ecosystem builders beyond the province. In a significant milestone, Innovate Iloilo was featured in a recent FyrSide Chat organized by FyrLab Accelerator at Aklan State University – Kalibo Campus, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Provincial Science and Technology Office – Aklan, led by Provincial Director Dyna Rose Gubatanga.
The session, titled “How to Build and Grow a Startup Ecosystem,” gathered aspiring innovators, students, and startup advocates in a lively and insightful conversation aimed at inspiring the next wave of changemakers in Aklan.
Moderated by Mr. Daryl Lasafin, Project Manager of FyrLab’s Acceleration Program, the panel featured three dynamic voices from the regional innovation ecosystem:
🔹 Mr. Michael Labos – A marketing specialist and co-founder of Mulave Studios, Michael has been a passionate supporter of the startup community since its early days, leveraging his creative expertise to elevate local startups through design and storytelling.
🔹 Mr. Renan Herrera – The Executive Director of Innovate Iloilo, Renan shared the movement’s mission to position Iloilo as the Premier Innovation Hub by 2030, highlighting the value of inclusive, multi-sectoral collaboration in developing a vibrant and sustainable innovation landscape.🔹 Mr. John Joseph Tabladillo – A young startup advocate and BS Computer Science graduate from ISAT-U, John is the Events and Marketing Manager of KWADRA TBI and UMWAD Western Visayas, and the founder of a student-led startup organization. He brought the youth perspective to the conversation, emphasizing grassroots leadership and student involvement in tech and entrepreneurship.
As Innovate Iloilo continues to broaden its reach and deepen its impact, this collaboration with Aklan marks a meaningful step toward building a stronger regional innovation ecosystem — one that goes beyond geographic boundaries and champions shared aspirations for a future driven by creativity, entrepreneurship, and inclusive growth.
📺 In case you missed it, you can watch the full livestream of the FyrSide Chat here: Watch Now
